president barack obama says his entry into politics began with anti-apartheid rallies at universities. he wrote in "the guardian" of having watched nelson mandela over the years with admiration and humility. >> i cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that nelson mandela set. so long as i live, i will do what i can to learn from him. >> political activists who went leaders say nelson mandela inspired them to become leaders and overcome oppression. >> he understood nobody should be penalized for the color of their skin or the circumstances in which they were born. he understood we could change the world. , also winnerlama of the nobel peace prize, says he has lost a dear friend. tribute we "the best can pay to him is to honor his oneness of humanity and with peace and reconciliation as he did." preparations began friday for the liberation hero's state funeral. mandela's passing came last night, but many south africans only found out when waking friday morning. the latest images coming there show an outpouring of emotion as people gather outside his home in johannesburg. "